Turntable Ring Rail

[Luzhin]

In a turntable circa 1920, how would the ring rail typically be held in position? Would the ties have been creosoted wood? If so, how were they anchored to the concrete turntable pit? Can anyone knowledgeable describe for me the material and method of typical ring rail construction? Thanks in advance.

[mudchicken]

Totally dependent on the railroad and the ingenuity of the folks putting the turntable together. By 1920, most turntables were poured in-place with square reinforcing bar steel. Many do not have any treated timber encased in the concrete at all. Not uncommon to see scrap rail inverted into the concrete work and the the ring rail, as you call it, fastened by gas welded A&B blocks to the bottom of the inverted rail imbedded in the concrete.

[Modelcar]

....That must have taken some fine work to get the support "ring" rail bent just the correct amount to form that perfect circle.

[mudchicken]

Folks from that era could rival anything we do now, it just took a lot more sweat and thought . ....and they were craftsmen of a higher order.[;)][;)][;)]

[adrianspeeder]

Power tools only allow mistakes to happen faster. A true craftsman doesnt need powertools to make cool things. If that was true, we would still be in caves.

Adrianspeeder

[Modelcar]

....I for one do not for one minute underestimate what the former craftman did on railroad building....Just look at some of the remaining structures and one can see the skills written all over them...and longevity too. Another was the skill in locating the physical plants over the rough terrain of mountains, etc....

[enr2099]

The turntable in Victoria, which is circa 1913 has the rail bolted to the concrete. The bolts were cast into the concrete when the shops in Victoria were built in 1913.

[tree68]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Modelcar

....I for one do not for one minute underestimate what the former craftman did on railroad building....Just look at some of the remaining structures and one can see the skills written all over them...and longevity too. Another was the skill in locating the physical plants over the rough terrain of mountains, etc....

Probably a high point of my railfanning has been my visit to Starucca Viaduct. That a stone bridge that big (over 1000' long and over 100' high) was built in the 1850's and is still in use boggles the mind.

[Modelcar]

...That must be awesome....I have never seen it except in photos but to understand how arches and the rest of it can stand on site for a century with the vibrations it has had to sustain and nothing work lose....It is beyond understanding how structures as such do stand the test of time. I suppose one answer....Built correctly in the first place.